GIANTS coach Jon Sharp will send his strongest side of the season into battle on Sunday with the aim of keeping his club's Challenge Cup dream alive.

Huddersfield start their McAlpine clash against National League II club York City Knights (3.00) as red-hot favourites to reach the semi-final of rugby league's most famous knockout competition for the first time in 33 years.

And with Sharp able to call on fit-again forward Jim Gannon (thumb) for the first time this campaign and playmaker Brandon Costin finally recovered from an ankle injury, everything suggests the Giants will be in the bag for Tuesday's semi-final draw.

That will take place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, which will host the Challenge Cup final on Saturday, May 15.

But cautious coach Sharp is refusing to get too carried away just yet.

"It's fantastic to have so many players available for such an important game," he admitted.

"We're all expecting Jim Gannon to give us even more go-forward, while Brandon's getting back more fitness on a daily basis and will be itching to build on last week's performance against Bradford.

"The problem I face right now is deciding who to leave out.

"I've got 19 players desperate to be included on Sunday - the same 17 that featured against the Bulls, plus Jim and Ben Cooper - and that's going to be no easy task.

"It will be up to those who get the nod to show me their selection was totally justified.

"Sunday is far too big a game for anyone to let the side down, and I'm confident that won't happen.

"The mood this week has been one of quiet determination to get the job done, and there's been no semi-final talk at this stage.

"We'll only consider any possible rewards if Sunday's game goes according to plan. We'd be letting everyone down if we thought too far ahead."

Sharp is obviously well aware that his side is expected to win with ease, but he believes that is disrespectful to the opposition.

"York showed in their win at Featherstone in the last round that they are great Cup battlers," he added.

"They have a good kicking game and bags of enthusiasm, and we know they'll have enthusiasm in abundance on Sunday.

"Our first task is to match them on that and then hopefully do what is required."